Left Wing and Right Wing

Flying with both wings

Yesterday I was asked why an obviously left-wing person (me) me would stand up for the rights of a right-winger (Eugene de Kock). My immediate response was “Well, does that not show compassion?” Not another word was said in response.

I pondered on that question all day yesterday. My answer was instinctive, with no thought. I wondered why people would view me as being ultra-left when I have worked so hard on taking the middle road. I also wondered exactly what a left-wing and a right-wing person is and eventually looked it up on Google. Left-wing people are radical, reforming or part of a socialist section of a system or political party. Right-wing people are conservative or the reactionary section of a political party or system. This originated in the National Assembly in France (1789-91), where the Nobles sat on the right of the president and the Common people sat on the left.

Now, I am no political analyst so I also had to look up what kinds of people fit into right-wing and left-wing groups. Right-wing groups seem to be those who are fanatical about their conservatism and continually provoke reactions from other people by their radical statements and venomous attacks on anyone they emotionally assume is outside of their group. Left-wing groups seem to be those who have views that support social change, can be equally radical and venomous in their attacks so that a more equal society (in their view) can come about.

I also learned that many groups can fall under either the right or the left wing categories, depending on the stage a country is in at the time. So one person who may have been classified as a right-winger a hundred years ago would now be classified as a left-winger.

I have never been able to fit myself into any box, be it religion or politics, a world view or even a career. I have always been on a path that is different to most people, so I am surprised that I am labelled and put into boxes by others. The most common box that I have been put into by other people is the “crazy” box, but that one I don’t mind being in. It then means that I can do as I please and people will say, “Oh, don’t worry, she is just crazy” and leave it at that. Although…I do believe that there is not one sane person on this planet and that each of us has a little insanity about us. It is what makes us different, what makes us individuals and what typifies us. Anyway, I don’t fit into the rightists or the leftists. But because of that, I seem to be constantly challenged by others. As Woodrow Wilson said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change something”. I am always trying to change something in society. Actually, I even change the furniture around to give me a different viewpoint of my own home!

So I come back to this left wing and this right wing thing. A bird can’t fly without both wings, so I guess for the moment (until history changes life again), I prefer to soar with both wings. A bird with only one wing will stay on the ground. But a bird with two wings can soar like and eagle or administer the compassion of an angel. Angels with broken wings or only one wing can do very little at all.

I fly with a right and a left wing!!